Natasha Rothwell: Embrace Your Main Character Energy | On the Spot

Summary

In this engaging interview, Natasha Rothwell shares her journey of self-discovery, creativity, and personal growth. From her passion for exploring the human condition to her advocacy for representation in media, Rothwell offers deep insights into her career and life. She discusses transformative moments like her first time seeing her name on *Saturday Night Live* credits, her ADHD diagnosis, and her evolving understanding of love and self-acceptance. With humor and vulnerability, she encourages embracing imperfections, valuing all forms of love, and recognizing one's worth, all while highlighting the importance of vulnerability and connection.

Takeaways

• 😀 Curiosity about the human condition drives Natasha Rothwell's creativity, and she strives to create content that makes people feel less alone.
• 😀 Representation in media is crucial, as Rothwell recalls the impact of seeing Nell Carter in 'Gimme a Break!' and how it inspired her to embrace her identity as a Black, plus-size woman.
• 😀 Rothwell’s first 'pinch me' moment came when she saw her name listed as a writer on 'Saturday Night Live', which taught her that identity comes from within, not from external validation.
• 😀 The best career advice Rothwell received was to 'Be prolific, not perfect,' which she says changed her perspective on success.
• 😀 Rothwell values a night in over a night out, and she humorously expresses how being cancelled on is her favorite thing.
• 😀 Rothwell prefers being 'too cold' rather than 'too hot' because, as she says, there are limits to how much you can take off in public.
• 😀 Rothwell would choose winning the lottery over finding a soulmate, confidently asserting that her soulmate will find her.
• 😀 Time travel to the future is Rothwell’s choice due to her anxiety, believing it would alleviate her worries about the unknown.
• 😀 Rothwell highlights the difference between dying alone and dying lonely, realizing that loneliness, not solitude, is what should be feared, and vulnerability is the key to overcoming it.
• 😀 In her reflection on love, Rothwell explains that she once prioritized romantic love above all else, but now values all forms of love in her life, understanding that romantic love is not the ultimate key to happiness.
• 😀 Rothwell shares a breakthrough moment where she discovered she has ADHD, reflecting on how her life could have been different with an earlier diagnosis and how accepting this aspect of herself allowed her to stop trying to change her innate traits.

Q & A

What ignites Natasha Rothwell's creativity?

Natasha Rothwell is driven by an insatiable curiosity about the human condition. She is deeply interested in understanding why people are the way they are, and this curiosity fuels her creativity, particularly when she writes, creates, directs, and produces content to make people feel less alone.

What does Natasha Rothwell believe TV needs more of?

Rothwell emphasizes the importance of representation in TV. She reflects on the mental gymnastics she had to perform as a child to project herself onto protagonists who didn't look like her. She advocates for more characters who reflect diverse experiences and appearances, pointing out the power of representation in her own career.

How did the show 'Gimme a Break!' impact Natasha Rothwell?

The show 'Gimme a Break!' and its lead, Nell Carter, significantly impacted Rothwell by showing her that she, as a plus-size Black woman, could also take up space unapologetically. The show helped her realize she could embrace her own 'main character energy' and was instrumental in her understanding of self-worth and representation.

What was Natasha Rothwell's first 'pinch me' moment?

Rothwell's first 'pinch me' moment occurred when she saw her name listed under 'Writers' in the credits of 'Saturday Night Live' after her first day working there. It made her realize that her ambition to be a writer was valid, and that she didn’t need external validation to call herself a writer.

What is the best job advice Natasha Rothwell has ever received?

The best job advice Rothwell received was to 'be prolific, not perfect.' This advice helped her shift focus from perfectionism to consistently creating and producing work, embracing the process instead of striving for flawlessness.

What does Natasha Rothwell value more, a night in or a night out?

Rothwell values a night in over a night out, especially enjoying the experience of being canceled on. She finds comfort in being at home, and the idea of not having to go out is a source of joy for her.

Does Natasha Rothwell prefer hot or cold weather?

Rothwell prefers cold weather over hot, noting that there are limits to how much she can strip down in hot conditions before it becomes uncomfortable. She finds cold weather more manageable.

What was Natasha Rothwell's perspective on romantic love?

Rothwell reflects on how, in the past, she prioritized romantic love above all other forms. Over time, she realized that platonic and familial love were equally important, and romantic love is not the key to happiness. She emphasizes that her life is full of love in many forms, and romantic love is just 'icing on the cake.'

How does Natasha Rothwell define self-love?

Rothwell describes self-love as a practice, acknowledging that it is inherently imperfect. As a recovering perfectionist, she understands that self-love is about grace and giving herself the space to love herself even when she doesn’t get it right.

What recent discovery has blown Natasha Rothwell's mind?

Rothwell was recently diagnosed with ADHD, a discovery that she initially resisted. Upon reflection, she recognized how her struggles with focus, motivation, and sleep throughout her life could have been attributed to undiagnosed ADHD. The diagnosis prompted a shift in how she viewed herself, accepting her neurodiversity and moving away from trying to 'fix' herself.